Kim Stein, cofounder of Adore-a-Bullie Paws, told The Dodo things changed last Saturday, when the owner of the 22 dogs finally contacted the rescue group - wanting help for a puppy who hadn't eaten in three days and had suffered a rectal prolapse.

The puppy who suffered from a rectal prolapse |
Adore-a-Bullie Paws and Claws

After turning the sick puppy over, the woman kept inquiring about when she would get the dog back. The rescue decided to get the authorities involved once it realized how severe the situation was and since the woman was unwilling to part with any of the dogs, despite her inability to care for them properly.

When officers finally rescued the remaining dogs on Monday, they realized they had come just in time. Several of the dogs faced a slew of various health conditions. Bruno, who lived in a crate in the back of the vehicle, was underweight.

They were scared, and police said the awful smell that permeated from the filthy car suggested the dogs had been living inside of it for a long period of time. Stein said the woman got Bruno when he was about 2 years old - and that she believes most of the dogs have only known life inside the car.

Bruno, also known as "Big Papa," has lived up to his nickname by being quite the fatherly figure to the younger and smaller dogs, who adore him.

"He's the most incredible part about the story," Stein said. "He cried for every single puppy they took out of the car." Later, when the puppies were reunited with Bruno at the police station, they all ran up to greet him.